Why Pakistan, China’s naval exercises in Arabian Sea are a security concern for India

India should be wary; quite wary. The navies of Pakistan and China are conducting a weeklong joint exercise in the northern Arabian Sea. According to the navies of the two countries, the exercise – the third edition of Sea Guardian-3 – is the largest-ever joint exercise between the two countries and kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Karachi Naval Dockyard on Saturday morning. The exercise will continue until Friday, said Chinese officials. Notably, the exercise comes just after India and the United States held its 2+2 ministerial dialogue during which maritime security in the Indo-Pacific was extensively discussed. The exercise also comes days after Russia and Myanmar held their first naval exercise in the Andaman Sea. The exercise will also see China and Pakistan conduct joint maritime patrols for the first time. As Liang Yang, commander at a PLA Navy base and the general director of the exercise told Chinese media: “The exercise aims to enhance the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and boosting defence cooperation with Pakistan”. But what are the implications of such activity for India? We find out. The Sea Guardian-3 exercise This isn’t the first time that China and Pakistan are carrying out such a naval exercise. The Sea Guardian’s first edition was held in 2020 in the northern Arabian Sea waters, and the second edition was held in 2022 in waters off Shanghai. The exercise will see the two navies participate in training courses including formation manoeuvring, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), helicopter cross-deck landing, joint search and rescue, joint anti-submarine and main gun shooting, plus professional exchanges and mutual visits. According to Wei Dongxu, a Chinese military expert, Beijing and Islamabad have common interests in jointly safeguarding strategic sea lanes in regions like the Indian Ocean, where piracy, terrorism and other dangerous activities pose threats to the maritime transport of energy and goods. Exercises like these also safeguard the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and contributes to the peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region, said another expert to The Global Times. Commenting on the exercise, Commodore Asim Sohail Malik said that Pakistan and China have always enjoyed strategically unique and strong relationships. He further stated that this exercise will strengthen decades-old and time tested friendship of both countries and will also open new avenues for future maritime cooperation between two friendly navies against common threats in the region. The assets in the naval exercise For the Sea-Guardian-3 exercise, the Chinese navy has deployed a destroyer, two modern frigates, a conventional attack submarine and a submarine support ship to Karachi. The guided-missile destroyer Zibo, commissioned in 2020, is an upgraded version of the Type 052D general purpose destroyer. Considered among the biggest and most capable destroyers, the Zibo has the capability of striking enemy ships as well as planes and even objects under the water. [caption id=“attachment_13385352” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A Type 039 diesel-electric submarine is also part of the Sea Guardian-3 drill between China and Pakistan. File image/AP[/caption] China has also deployed its two frigates – Jingzhou and Linyi – which are fitted with advanced weapons and sensors. China’s comprehensive supply ship Qiandaohu is also docked at Karachi for the exercise. There’s also a Type 039 diesel-electric submarine that has been docked at Karachi as part of the Sea Guardian-3 exercise. From the Pakistani side, nine vessels, including the PNS Shahjahan and Saif, three shipborne helicopters, four fighter jets, one fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and dozens of Marines are involved in the exercise, reported the Global Times.

A concern for India China’s docking of ships, including the submarine, will be a concern for New Delhi. The neighbouring country has, over a period of time, increased its activity in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this month, China’s ‘research ship’ Shi Yan 6 was docked in Colombo. However, before that it sailed into the Bay Bengal between the Tamil Nadu coastline and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to an NDTV report, this is the eighth time that the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has deployed a submarine in the Indian Ocean since 2013.

Moreover, China’s decision to dock its submarine in Karachi displays Beijing’s ability to project naval power in distant waters. According to experts, China is actively mapping the waters of the Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal, to facilitate extensive submarine operations across the region. In addition to this, China has established a “string of pearls” in the Indian Ocean region—a network of ports financed by China for potential use by the PLA Navy. For instance, it established its first overseas military base in Djibouti. Earlier, Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi had said that the Navy is fully aware of Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean Region. “In the Indian Ocean, we are keeping a sharp watch as to where their research ship, spy ship, satellite tracking ship, warships (are) wherever they are by the hour,” Vice Admiral Tripathi said. Also, India remains wary about China and Pakistan’s growing closeness. Beijing has been increasingly helping modernise Islamabad’s navy. In 2016, Pakistan signed a $5 billion deal to acquire Yuan class Type 039/041 diesel submarines by 2028. Apart from this, Pakistan has also expanded its surface fleet. It has commissioned Zulfiqar-class frigates, based on China’s Type 053H3 vessels, which serve multiple roles, including anti-submarine warfare. Pakistan has also commissioned the guided missile frigate Tughril, which is being built in Shanghai. Experts note that the modernisation of the Pakistan navy by China is not only a part of China-Pakistan cooperation to safeguard Belt and Road Initiative sea routes, but also support the Chinese navy’s presence in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. They further note that China is trying to change the status quo in the region. They believe that a stronger Pakistan navy would be able to stand up to India’s naval strength. With inputs from agencies